All of the eleven (11) technical staff of the National Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Center for Highland Pedo-Ecological Zone (NSWRRDC-HIGHPEZ) completed the “Capacity Enhancement on Statistical Tools, Methods and Data Interpretation” on June 23-25, 2021 at Farmers Training Center, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon. The capability enhancement is part of the staff’s individual learning and development plan. 

The capability enhancement aimed to enhance the knowledge of the NSWRRDC-HIGHPEZ staff on the recent statistical tools, methods and data interpretation. The participants were involved in the data collection, analysis using Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research software (STAR), and selecting the appropriate experimental design. It is expected that the knowledge they have acquired from the capability enhancement will be applied in their work especially in the data collection, analysis and interpretation and other research activities.

Topics discussed during the 3-day activity are: An Introduction to Crop Experiment (including why we need good experimental design and statistics); How to Select the Appropriate Experimental Design (focusing on field experiments); A Practical Exercise where participants get to design their own experiment and use statistical software to generate layouts; the Analysis of Variance, Use of Statistical Software in the Analysis and How to Interpret Results; Post-Hoc Test and What Means to Compare Base on that Outcome of ANOVA, Planned F-Test and Trend Comparison; Problem Data and Remedial Measures, and Correction and Regression Uses. 

Professor Helen La Viña Ebuña, of the Department of Soil Science, Central Mindanao University served as the resource person of the capability enhancement. Actual data from the participants were used in the workshop, especially on the data analysis and interpretation. Participants were also given assignments and asked to present their outputs to gauge their learning. 

On the last day, selected participants expressed their gratitude and other concerns about the 3-day activity. Said that the long-awaited capacity enhancement was achieved, the participants also expressed that they are looking forward to more capability enhancement related to research.

Mr. Florentino C. Agustin, Supervising Science Research Specialist,   graced the closing program. In his message, he emphasized the significance of agricultural statistics in the operation in the office, as one of the research Centers of BSWM, and as a tool towards development. He also encouraged everyone to be actively involved in research. 

The activity was coordinated by Ms. Aden Jade Bonggo and Ms. May Shane Robes, and facilitated by  all technical staff of the Center. Ms. Aden Jade Bonggo, Agricultural Technician I, was the Masters of Ceremony.